Latest News

Surfrider Foundation + Los Angeles Marathon




Meet Tracie, a 59-year Santa Monica resident and adaptive surfer, skater, and marathoner who will be running the LA Marathon next month and raising funds to support Surfrider LA. Tracie is a total beast and hasn't let Multiple Sclerosis stand in the way of getting after what she loves best - the beach, endurance challenges, and heavy drops. Click this link to support Tracie as she enters the LA Marathon on March 24th to raise funds for your favorite Surfrider chapter.

By supporting Surfrider runners in the Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon, your gift will directly impact and help protect our local ocean, waves, and beaches for future generations. GO, TRACIE, GO!

Water Quality Update


From Surfrider LA :
As the rains have tapered off, water quality has improved at the majority of sites tested - 31 and 20 CFUs/100mL at Santa Monica Pier and Will Rogers Beach respectively. However, the Pico Kenter storm drain is still showing elevated bacteria levels of 3823 CFUs/100mL 💩😳 - it’s a good reminder to avoid entering the ocean around storm drains for at least 72 hours after a significant rain.

Questions about Surfrider LA's Blue Water Task Force can be addressed to bwtf@la.surfrider.org

Sea Level Rise Discussion

On Wednesday 2/27 at Patagonia Santa Monica , Surfrider LA is discussing sea level rise and the impacts to surfing in California. Members will hear an update from the Malibu Lagoon Action Committee and their efforts to address chronic erosion at First Point. Meeting is from 7pm - 8:30pm in store, and open to the public!

Patagonia Santa Monica store
1344 4th Street ,
Santa Monica , California , 90401


Snowing In Malibu

Shane Borland



Topanga's Shane Borland heads down south for some waves in Mexico.

This Week's Surf Outlook


The North Pacific is fairly slow as we move into the second half of February. The West Coast gets a shot of NW windswell midweek, which shows largest in Northern California. . Southern California gets a smaller share but again, winds are problematic.

Venice Beach Clean Up


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | WEDNESDAY 2/20 | 10AM - 1PM | ROSE AVE, VENICE


Surfrider LA is looking for volunteers who can assist with weekday corporate sponsored beach cleanups. These cleanups are a major source of revenue for the chapter and help fund ongoing programs and campaigns to address plastic pollution, water quality, beach access, and coastal preservation here in LA County. DM Surfrider LA on Instagram if you're available to help with the cleanup on Wednesday.

ZJ Boarding House President's Day Sale

Presidents Day Sale Happening now at ZJ Boarding House !!

ZJ Boarding House
2619 Main St. Santa Monica, CA
(310) • 392 • 5646
Store Hours:
Mon - Sat 10am - 7pm
Sun 10am - 6pm

Venice Pier Beach Clean-Up


On Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 10 AM – 1 PM, Surfrider LA will be posting up on the north side of the Venice Pier to clean between the lifeguard headquarters and Ballona Creek. Come clean the beach and reward yourself with a bite and beverage at The Whaler afterwards!

Visit the Surfrider Event Page for details.

Sticky Bumps Wax Giveaway


Sticky Bumps Wax wants to hook you up with some wax!

All you have to do is TAG your favorite local Surf Shop and your entered to win! Want to win a six pack of our Zombie Bob wax? (same formula, throwback packaging).
1. Follow @stickybumpswax on Instagram.
2. TAG your favorite local Surf Shop in the comments of the Wax Giveaway photo.

*6 winners will be chosen on 2/15/19
*Prize pack includes 6-pack of SB Original Surf Wax (your choice of temp), 1x air freshener & 1x sticker

Water Quality Update


From Surfrider LA :
After last weekend’s heavy rain, samples collected at Santa Monica beaches yielded elevated levels of enterococcus bacteria BUT under the EPA-recommended threshold. Unfortunately, samples collected at Tower 15 at Will Rogers beach by the drain showed exceedances in the levels of bacteria ABOVE the safety threshold. While the LA County Department of Health lifted the water quality warning this morning, care should still be taken to avoid surfing or swimming near creeks, outflow pipes or drains for another 1-2 days. .

Questions about Surfrider LA's Blue Water Task Force can be addressed to bwtf@la.surfrider.org

Surfline Catches Truck Crash At Malibu




On Tuesday, the Surfline cam got footage of this Ford F150 smashing into the guardrail near Neptune's Net.

The video above from KTLA says an eyewitness captured the footage (but he filmed the the Surfline cam's replay of it).

Frankie's Bikinis Warehouse Sale


Mark it in your calendars, set all of your alarms. This is Frankie's Bikinis biggest warehouse sale ever.

Topanga Vintage Board Swap


Boardriders Malibu and Vintage Surfboard Collector Club are hosting the Topanga Surf Swap. Mark your calendars on February 9 - 7am to 2 pm, for some epic vibes! Whether your looking to buy, sell or trade, there will be boards and gear for everyone!

Boardriders Malibu
18820 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, Ca 80265
310 - 359 - 8274


Check out photos from the last event: Topanga Vintage Surf Swap

Post Storm Swell?


After a stormy last week, a better surf window should temporarily open up this week for parts of California. Unfortunately, not a whole lot of swell down in Southern California, yet clean morning conditions will setup plenty of options especially after the recent rains (come on, sandbars...).

WEDNESDAY: 3-4'+ sets at winter standouts. AM conditions cleanest. Tuesday's WNW-NW swell-mix decreases some, but still providing sets up to chest-shoulder high at well exposed breaks (strongest overall in Ventura and South San Diego). Likely decent shape, even the beachbreaks with a variety of periods to break it up. Light offshore wind in the AM for most areas, then just a light to moderate onshore breeze developing by the PM. Note a 5.5' high tide peaking mid-morning, which incoming tide early may be a good window for many spots. Poor water quality due to rainfall.

THURSDAY: 2-3'+ sets at winter standouts. AM conditions cleanest. The WNW-NW swell-mix eases down another click from Wednesday. Primarily inconsistent WNW sets around waist-belly maybe chest high for top exposed breaks, which will be most prominent around the best tides - Strongest overall through Ventura and South San Diego. Similar conditions to Wednesday - Light offshore wind in the AM for most areas, then just a light to moderate onshore beeze developing in the PM. 5'+ high tide mid-morning. Poor water quality due to rainfall.

Red Bull WallRide Contest

Red Bull‘s WallRide contest will be held in lovely Venice Beach on Saturday, March 9. Weather has been a thorn in this contest’s side, which was originally scheduled for December and then moved to February. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a sunny day!

Pros and ams will be invited to get creative on different wall designs, and there will be opportunities for an open class of skaters to get in via a “wild card” selection. The contest will be held at the handball courts, known primarily for OG skate antics from some beloved Venice locals back in the day.

Skateboarders 16 years or older ranging from amateurs to professionals are invited to participate, but space is limited! The competition will be judged in ten-minute jam format heats. Registration will start at 10:00 a.m. and will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. Details below:

Venice Beach Handball Courts
1800 Ocean Front Walk
Venice Beach, CA 90291

Saturday, March 9
Registration On-Site and Open Skate: 10 AM
Wild Card Qualifiers: 11 AM
Contest Begins: 1 PM
Contest Finals: 4 PM

Surfrider Water Quality Report


From Surfrider LA :
As expected following heavy rain, the level of enterococcus bacteria in water samples obtained from Tower 15 at Will Rogers and in front of the Pico Kenter storm drain (in front of Shutters Hotel in Santa Monica) far exceeded the recommended EPA safe level. It's a good bet that there is widespread contamination of the water at all of our LA-based beaches near storm drains or run-off locations.

Surfrider LA advises beach-goers to stay out of the water for 72 hours following heavy rains as your risk of contracting illness from enterococcus bacteria is significantly increased during this period. Heavy rains are expected in the LA area thru Tuesday so your best chance of avoiding illness is to stay out of the water until Friday.

Thank You Mother Screening

Check Out Torren Martyn’s New Surf Film, “Thank You Mother”. It will be screening at The Waterfront, Venice, CA, on Friday, February 8th at 8:00 pm



If you’re into cinematic surf films, have a nostalgic love of the 1970s mind-bender “Morning of the Earth” or you just simply enjoy watching beautifully crafted boards slice through flawless right-hand points, then you’d be wise to check out Torren Martyn’s new film, “Thank You Mother”.

Martyn, as you might know, has made a name for himself riding an extensive range of twin-finned boards–everything from 5’4″ to 7’9″–with enviable style and grace. The man who’s crafted each one of Martyn’s twinnies is none other than Simon Jones of Morning of the Earth Surfboards. After watching Falzon’s seminal film back in the ’70s, Jones was heavily influenced by the boards the surfers were riding in the film and remains so to this day. Jones and Falzon are now good friends and kindred spirits in a way, living lives that Martyn has always been inspired by.

Martyn explains that “Thank You Mother” is primarily an all-action surf film, but it hints at the relationship between himself, Jones and Falzon in subtle ways. According to Martyn, Jones shaped four unique boards for him which Martyn test-drives on the long points of J-Bay and Desert Point alongside Jones and his son, Dash. Falzon makes a cameo too–well, sort of. While Martyn and his filmmaker Ishka Folkwell sat down to interview Falzon, Falzon reflected on surfing and what’s important in life. Since Falzon has quite a way with words, Martyn and Folkwell decided to use his interview as narration throughout the entire film–layered beautifully over Martyn’s fancy footwork.

Sunset Point Cleanup


Join Surfrider LA for their February cleanup at Sunset Point. Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 2 PM – 5 PM. During the last session at Sunset Surfrider LA removed 440.5 lbs of trash from the beach and after the recent rains there's sure to be even more this month.

Park for free in the Gladstone's parking lot, just tell the attendant that you're a badass Surfrider activist there to save the beach!

Visit the Surfrider Event Page for details.

January Surf Spot Photos Recap